A companion to the holy Bible; being Dr. Wells's historical geogra phy of scripture, revised, corrected and improved; with geographical excursions, intended to ascertain certain facts of importance. Accompanied by maps, plans, views, medals, and other plates suitable to the subject, and illustrative of the religion, and incidental peculiarities of places mentioned in scripture.-Of the maps of this work, some are outlines representing the ancient state of various parts; others are finished, representing the same countries in their modern state. Many of the plates will be taken from medals of the cities referred to, from whence their deities may be ascertained; which will shew -- at the same time what idols the Isra elites were seduced to worship, and what opponents the Christian religion had to overthrow at its first promulgation.-Of this work there will be two editions: one on common paper, in shilling numbers, crown octavo, pocket size; published monthly; will be complete in two vols. Another on fine paper, in five shilling parts, demy quarto, each containing three shilling numbers; published every three months; will be complete in one volume. The second part of this companion will contain the history of the sacred books, the lives of the writers, remarks on their styles of composition, &c. C. Taylor. Lon don. Obituary. A Memoir of the Rev. JONAS CLARK, whose death has been already announced. He was born at Newton, on the 25th of December, 1730, graduated at the neighbouring University in 1752, and on the fifth of November, 1755, succeeded the aged and venerable HANCOCK, in the pastoral care of the church and congregation in Lexington. Here, through the course of half a century, he approved himself an able and faithful minister of the New-Testament. Receiving the charge of a people, long accustomed to gospel order, he was laudably ambitious to lead them on in the good old paths, trodden by our pious ancestors. He regarded the usages which had prevailed during the ministry of his predecessor, as models for his own. Indeed the mantle of the ascended prophet apparently rested on his successor. The spirit of primitive Christianity displayed through the long lite of the former, was exhibited afresh in that of the latter. Mr. CLARK was wholly devoted to the duties of his sacred calling, and by reading, meditation and prayer, became mighty in the scriptures, rightly dividing them, giving to every one their portion in due season, supplying milk for babes, and strong meat for those of full stature ; feeding, with equal care, the lambs as well as the sheep. His public dis courses consisted, not of learned discussions on speculative or metaphysic al subjects, nor yet of dry lectures on heathen morality; but of the most interesting truths of the gospel, well ar ranged for the edification of his hearers; and they were delivered, not in a formal, heartless manner, but with uncommon energy and zeal. He also lived in a good measure, as he preached. He was incapable of wishing to be himself exempted from those restrictions and self-denials, which he inculcated upon others. Far from esteeming Christ's yoke to be heavy, he always appeared to bear it with de light. In his pastoral visits and in the whole of his social intercourse among his people, no minister could be more tender and sympathizing, or take a deeper interest in whatever concerned either their present or future well-being. "He was gentle among them, as a nurse cherisheth her children." His attachment to them was nat urally connected with an high degree of patriotism. In the times preced. ing the American revolution, he was not behind any of his brethren in giv ing his influence on the side of his country, in opposition to its oppres. sors. While the distressed inhabitants of Boston were suffering under the port bill, sixteen or twenty cords of wood were said to have been sent on one day, to their relief, from Lexington, as a donation from the minister, or from the people through his influence. Whether the British troops became acquainted with this circumstance or not, it is certain, that the first blood which they afterward shed was that of the Lexington people. At the dawn of day, on the 19th of April following, the heart of the pastor was wrung with anguish at the sight of his beloved parishioners, not many rods distant from his door, most cruelly murdered, through the mere insolence and wanton pride of an armed force. During the continuance of the war, which then commenced, the anniversary of this outrage upon humanity was religiously observed by him and his people. As his circumstances were never affluent, and he had a numerous family of ten children to educate, it was matter of admiration how he found means for his works of charity and for the practice of hospitality to so great an extent. His doors were open to laymen and strangers, as well as to his brethren and to candidates for the ministry. So generally did the latter, allured by his known disposition to encourage them, seek his acquaintance, that he was, of course, during the latter years of his life, very frequently solicited to assist at their ordination. Perhaps there is not another minister in the State, who has so often administered the charge on such occasions. He continued the performance of parochial duties until within a few weeks of his death. Visiting him after his confinement, the writer of this article was pleased and edified in witnessing the calmness and composure with which he supported the prospect before him, and spoke of his approaching dissolution. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace. At Braintree, EBENEZER C. THAYER, aged 30; a respectable physician. At Amherst, on the 14th inst. the Hon, SIMEON STRONG, one of the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court of this Commonwealth, in his 70th year. Ar Newbury, December 10, the widow SARAH NEWELL, aged 83. As an affectionate, exemplary mother, as a faithful friend, and, most of all, as a follower of Christ, she deserves the remembrance of her surviving acquaintance. By her fruits she shew. ed herself a child of God. The pleasing hope, which is entertained of her eternal welfare, is not grounded merely on that fairness of character and that amiable deportment, which gained the esteem of all who knew her; nor on the seriousness of her last days and hours; but a cordial regard to Jesus Christ and the truths of his gospel, which uniformly appeared in her life. She loved the habitation of God's house, and was, even to old age, a pattern of constancy in attending public worship. Her religion conspired with her natural temper to render her cheerful; but her cheerfulness was not levity. She had little confidence in her own piety. The hope she entertained of her final acceptance was commonly a trembling hope. But this did not prevent her joy in God. She often expressed a penitent sense of her sins, of the weakness of her faith, and of her great distance from that perfection, after which her soul aspired. The amiable glory of Christ excited her love. Though she was conscious of total unworthiness, the fulness of his atonement encouraged her hope; while the promise of his Spirit animated her endeavours and prayers. The peculiar discoveries of the gospel gained not only the assent of her understanding, but the tenderest affection of her heart. To the last she was favoured with a remarkable degree of mental vigour, and was enabled, a short time before she expired, to address to her children and grandchildren such pious counsel, as was dictated by the dying scene. They had comfort in her life, and are not without comfort in her death. But praise is not due to mortals. Let us cherish that lovely humility, which she often expressed, and ascribe all her comfort and usefulness here, and all the blessedness we hope she will enjoy hereafter, to THE GRACE OF GOD. Off Cadiz, October 19, Lord Vis. count NELSON, a celebrated British admiral, killed in a battle between a British and a combined French and Spanish fleet, in which the former were vietorious. Poetry. THE SEASONS. "TIs God who bids the tempest blow, Dart from the sun, to cheer the day: The streams are dry: They droop, they faint, Fer the Panoplist. The storms awhile with fury play, From noxious heats and vapours clear, Now by alternate rains and shines, Let nature join her highest lays, HOLEM. WINTER NIGHT. [From the Monthly Anthology.] HAIL Winter! sullen monarch! dark with clouds: Throned on bleak wastes, and fierce and cold with storms; Welcome thy blasting cold and treasured snow! Thy raving, rending winds do but compose My soul; and midst thy gloom, my heart Smiles like the opening spring. Thy long drear nights, I love to follow to the cloudy west, And see thy twilight deepen into gloom Of thickest darkness. Round my cheering fire, The power of truth divine; and from whose lips In giddy nonsense, in contempt of truth, Which elevates the soul, and swells the heart Of mind, of strength, of wealth. Think, thoughtless world, How many fatherless and widows pine In some poor hovel, pressing to their breasts What brooding sorrows ye might cheer! What tears Ye might wipe off with lenient sympathy. Will soften. Yon waste fields will smile in green; But MAN, Of love. How bleak and waste! In vain the Sun Extend his hands, bleeding with wounds of love. TO CORRESPONDENTS. H, on Secrets revealed to those who fear the Lord, is received, and on file for our next number. The apology of FIDELIS was unnecessary. His communication is very acceptable, and will be read with interest. We shall hope to hear again from this unknown and judicious correspondent. C. Y. A. will accept our cordial thanks for his luminous remarks on several interesting subjects. The lucubrations of this original and instructive writer will be very acceptable to the editors, and we presume to the readers of the Panoplist. We are happy to find him a favourite of the muses. He will par. ticularly oblige us by contributions to our poetic department. The subject of P's communication is very important, and requires to be managed with a skilful and delicate hand. The piece before us contains good matter; but it will be necessary to give it a new dress before it can appear with advantage before the public eye. Our readers shall be gratified with Z, in continuation, on Experimental Religion, in the next number. PHILO'S concluding No. on the Deluge; further remarks on Demons, by BETA; and EUSEBIUS, on the importance of preparation for death, are received and on file for future publication. As a large proportion of our readers do not understand the dead languages, a lover of sacred poesy will excuse our declining his request, unless he will accompany the Latin text with an English translation. |